Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Guys, I'm having SUCH a problem... Kaluah pooped for the first time today, and it REAKED! Now my mom wants to get rid of her, but I don't want to.... is there any way to combat the smell at all? Would an air-freshener in the room help at all, or maybe there's an odor-absorbing sand I can put in the cage... It's just bad because her tank is in my room, and my mom wants to return her now, but I love her!

There is probably a problem. Take a fresh poo to a vet in a Ziploc or something and have a fecal done. She probably has parisites or coccidia or something.
Poo does have a smell but it shouldn't fill the room & make your nose hairs curl. LOL

Get a fecal done and let us know what they say.

Joel R

Alright.... well, what's the definition of "normal", because this is my first dragon, and the smell could be normal, but I just don't know... i'm really stressing over the fact that I may have to get rid of her.... should I be able to smell the poo as soon as I walk into my bedroom, or should it only be smellable when I'm right near the tank?

Near the tank for the most part. However,,, some dragons just have their own funk so it could be just a personal thing.
I can't explain what a normal smell would be, it's just something you have to learn.
Now, not suggesting anything so don't bash me for this people.
In my opinion,, crickets make poo reek too. I switched to pellets/veggies, and small amounts of micro mealworms and the smell of the poo has gotten much better.
With that said,, the only way you will know if it's something going on is a fecal. If you find out it's coccida, you will remember that smell and know next time it comes around. I know when I go to shows, I can smell it at individual tables. It's just one of those things that sticks in your head.

Here is a pic of normal (parasite free) Poo. If yours is much more runny than I'd get it checked out. Certain foods can cause poo to be softer etc. so don't panic if it's not the same.

I agree, if it reaks, it's probably not normal poo. Crickets do make the poop smell worse, even so, you shouldn't be knocked over by it when you open the door to your room. Smelly poop is the number one sign of parasites. Get it checked and Mom, you and beardie will feel much better.
-----
TheClassyLizard

exactly...crickets do make it smell more, kind of like meat makes ours smell more than veggies etc...(i know i know...disgusting) ...something that could help when you clean, is this new Natural Chemistry "Healthy Habitat" cleaner and deoderizer...i bought some, it eats the leftover poo away! (you just remove all the solid crap you can, spray, let it sit for like a minute, then wipe away, even the biggest smells leave. You can use it while the dragon is in the enclosure, its all organic and cant harm them. Just my thoughtss
-----
~David - KDRKreatures
My Main Herps-
1.2 Bearded dragons (Ralph, Artemis, Cheech)
1.0 Veiled Chameleon (Chiquito)
1.0 Ringneck Snake (Striker)
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles (Athena and Mercury)

KDRKreatures-Home Page
My Email

Normal poo smell could fill a room if the room is small and closed in and the poo sat in the cage for some time. However, if the poo is cleared out as soon as possible there should be little smell lingering in the cage or room (unless you throw the poo into a waste basket that is also in the room...it will start to reek from there too eventually). Typically I have found normal poo smells like a very sharp leavy smell...almost like the smell of fresh cut grass but more bitter.

If the weather is warm enough in your area, keep the window open and your door open so air flow will help keep any lingering smell away.

You also mentioned this is the first time your lizard as pooed since you got it? That would also be why the smell is stronger than it normally would. Natural occuring bacteria in the bowel would had more time to work on the poo and give it a stronger smell. I would still recommend getting a fecal done just to be sure there are no parasites.

As for Mom not liking the smell, you can tell her that it won't always be so bad and bearded dragons poo alot less than say a cat or dog who's own poo smells alot worse than beardie poo if it was done in an enclosed area. Hopefully that helps

You have all been a big help.... I thought that perhaps it was because she hadn't pooed that there could be a smell build-up... I also called the shop tonight, and they told me that beardies are one of the smelliest animals... whether I believe them or not is a different story, but me and my mom went out and bought some sit-on-the-counter air fresheners... glade plug-in type stuff... now my room smells citrusy and not so smelly... SHE still kinda smells, but at least the whole room doesnt'.
Thanks again for all the help... if it doesn't get better in a couple days, I'll definately send some samples for a fecal... perhaps the baby food is making it worse too? Who knows!?

There is a deodorizing rod you can buy. I bought them and within a half an hour of putting in my males cage you couldn't smell anything in his cage. It's great and it only costs around $7.00. I don't think you can advertise sites on here, so if you e-mail me at: alsgigi32@hotmail.com I will tell you where I bought mine.

I agree coccidia makes the poop reek. It is very strong will overwhelm a room get that checked out. I recently had a flare up of Coccidia and didn't even notice it with 13 dragons (a good portion probably had it). The secret to masking it was that I was using dirt. When dragons are on top soil you do not smell their poop. Some say it could lead to parasites but I haven't really had a problem. I think stress of breeding may cause coccidia to show its nasty head along with other parasites. The other thing I do is I use I believe it is reunitze super order killer. It is unscented but seems to reduce the smell in the animal room. Might be a good help in your room. The only time you should smell poop is when right over the dragons cage.
-----
Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com